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| MATR Newsletter - Fri May 8, 2015 |
Wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is going to happen.
A big thank you and congratulations to MEDA http://www.medamembers ... /meda and the GFDA http://www.gfdevelopme ... .org/ for an excellent economic development conference in Great Falls this week. Great Falls, Montana is definitely on the move.
2014 Montana Politics & 2015 Legislature
PrintingForLess
- Montana Governor Steve Bullock Signs Law To Protect Innocent People From Having Their Property Seized By Police
Civil asset forfeiture is a controversial legal tool that allows police to seize property they suspect of being related to criminal activity, without first obtaining a conviction or even charging its owner with a crime.
- Gov. signs bill to close Montana Developmental Center - Is is time for a Kennedy Krieger Institute West in Montana?
Proponents say years of assault and neglect have left the state with no other option than to close the Boulder facility, which employs more than 200 people. Those opposing the closure say they fear some of the clients will be left with nowhere to go.
- New Montana law allows tax-deductible donations to disabled
A new state law will allow Montanans to make tax-deductible donations of up to $3,000 a year to a new savings account set up by or for a disabled person.
- Montana Gov. Steve Bullock "Legislative session was breath of fresh air"
As governor, I've made it clear that my door is always open to folks from all political stripes who want to put politics aside to do good things on behalf of the people of this great state. I look forward to building on these results as I continue to serve Montanans.
Visit Montana - Montana Dept. of Tourism
- Sell with Storytelling
What do George Lucas, Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs and Subway all have in common?
Great Falls Development Authority
- Montana's Spring Smith River trip requires gear, craft modifications
Located roughly between White Sulphur Springs and Great Falls, the Smith River is well known for being Montana's only waterway that requires a permit to float. Every winter, hundreds of people apply for the coveted launch dates of the late spring and early summer. The winners are chosen in a lottery.
Come Home Montana
- SBA Award Presentation - Jordan Husted, 2015 Montana SBA Millennial Entrepreneur Of The Year, 5/12, Great Falls, Montana
Jordan Husted, a 24-year-old financial advisor with Edward Jones in Great Falls, will be presented his 2015 Montana Small Business Administration (SBA) Millennial Entrepreneur of the Year award on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Asurion will close downtown Great Falls call center in August
The company is moving to a home-based employment model and already has 2,500 employees working from home across the country.
- Great Falls Development Authority 2015 First Quarter Index
Here are just a few of the things that the Great Falls Development Authority have accomplished in the first quarter of 2015.
- GFDA Top 16 May 3 2015
Here's the GFDA Top 16 for the this week, celebrating great things happening to move Great Falls Forward.
- Recognize National Tourism Week And Celebrate Our Volunteers, 5/14, Great Falls
Over 13,000 visitors will go to the Visitor Information Center this summer and meet our amazing volunteers! We invite you to come up next week for a reception recognizing National Tourism Week and celebrating our Volunteers.
- $6.7 million AgriTech Park agreement moving forward in Great Falls, Montana
City staff have been negotiating with the Great Falls Development Authority and the AgriTech Owners Association for an estimated $6.7 million worth of public infrastructure in the park, which is located along River Drive, near Malmstrom Air Force Base.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- Montana Career Opportunity - Web Developer / Programmer - Adventure Travel
Adventure Life is seeking an innovative web developer to join our Missoula, MT team.
- Montana Career Opportunities - Sales Director, Description: Customer Service/Technical Support Representative, Installation Technician - Montana Opticom
Montana Opticom, Montana's rapidly expanding, mega bandwidth, fiber optic data, voice and video provider in southwestern Montana.
- Montana Career Opportunity - Project Manager - Montana State University Leadership Institute
The ideal candidate will be an articulate, thoughtful, and diplomatic communicator who enjoys building relationships and partnerships (especially with students, the community and vendors).
Montana Business
- Montana Indian Equity Fund
The Montana Indian Equity Fund is a grant to assist a current Native American business or a new Native American business owner.
- Welcome to the Montana Entrepreneur Site
The mission of Montana Entrepreneur is to expand existing resources for Montana entrepreneurs and business owners, especially programs and organizations that provide individualized business counseling and support access to capital.
- Starting up a new business in a small town
Local governments can take leadership positions when community members are unable to move the needle on big challenges. Other times, government can be more of a feeder instead of a leader.
Montana Economic Development
- Yurts Make the Best Tiny Homes - Video - Shelter Designs - Quality Montana Made Yurts
Would you trade in your daily commute to live life off grid in Northern Montana?
- S&K Electronics, Ronan, Montana Awarded Multi-Year Contract by the Department of Defense
For more than 30 years, S&K Electronics has delivered superior cable and wire harness, electromechanical box build and circuit card assemblies.
- The Montana Women's Business Center Helps Mesa Chef Claudia Krevat bring her Flare to Bozeman, MT
Her passion for healthy eating has led her to join the Lentil Underground Movement, a group of renegade Montana famers focused on changing the future of food in America by pushing healthy food programs in schools.
- Kindkudos - Bryony Schwan
In the latest episode we learn about the power of positive thinking and the importance of lasting memories when we speak to Bryony Schwan, CEO & founder of the app Kindkudos.
- Montana Celebrates Small Business Week
The U.S. Small Business Administration said small businesses are the backbone of Montana's economy in that they maintain the state's local tax base, hire locally and support community organizations and non-profits.
- Bitterroot Food Processing Center Survey
Thank you for participating in our survey, you're feedback is very valuable to us.
- Mamalode Honors Moms - Dori Gilels
What started as a local magazine, co-founded by Dori Gilels '91, is now a multi-media company for moms, by moms.
- Great Harvest Bread - 3 Keys to Small Business Success from the Foodservice Industry
This is truly a magical business that can transform people's lives and offer an ever-changing environment for personal and professional growth.
- Missoula, Montana's Five on Black Brazilian grill serves flavors all its own
Snyder's initial business plan was based on a lot of Internet research. After he won the business plan competition, he used part of his winnings to fund a trip to Brazil so he could experience their food in person. Snyder was somewhat surprised by what he found.
- Missoula's Mamalode magazine encourages moms to share their stories
Mamalode has grown from a local magazine to a nationally known brand
- Whitefish, Montana based U*Seek combines rewards and loyalty programs with donations to charity
There are a lot of like-minded entrepreneurs that live in this area," said Kellie Danielson, the president of Montana West Economic Development. "So when someone gets an idea, there's a lot of support."
Startup Weekend in Montana Communities
- Montana Economic Developers Association talks about infrastructure
The infrastructure mini-summit began with Montana's report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Montana earned a grade of C- when it came to infrastructure in November 2014, with their lowest category score being D- for schools.
Alberta Business and Economic Development
- Startup Weekend Great Falls delayed because of low registration
Co-organizer Jeff Mangan, a businessman and former legislator, said the group hopes to announce a new date soon for the two-and-a-half day event soon, and it probably will be in October.
Careers
- How a Socialist Party Just Took Over the Texas of Canada
The deepest oil patch in North America is going to be governed by people who believe that climate change is real, man-made, and should bear on any policy that involves burning more hydrocarbons.
Next Generation Broadband in Montana
- It's Official: Wearing a Suit Makes You Less Effective
Clothes do indeed make the man (or the woman)... but not in a good way.
Rural Communities
- Incentives to improve Montana broadband to cease this summer
Montana lawmakers refused this year to pick up where federal stimulus programs will leave off in funding improvements to the state's Internet, phone and cable services.
Business Plan Forums
- Number of Rural Businesses Falls
Because these very small establishments account for a bigger share of businesses in rural areas than in metropolitan ones, the trend is troubling.
City Club Missoula
- UC students' big ideas wow judges with big money on line
Each had three minutes to explain. The five judges, just regular people, were also no dummies
Regional Business
- City Club Missoula Presents: Missoula's Downtown Master Plan, 5/11, Missoula
This presentation by the Downtown Master Plan Implementation Committee will report on the completed efforts of the Master Plan to date in the areas of Land Use, Circulation, Employment, Parking, Housing, Retail and Tourism.
Regional Economic Development
- Tech's Next Big Legal Clash Will Be Over Selling Insurance
The issue at hand is Zenefits' crafty and unusual business model.
- Portland Businesses Join White House Maker Movement
Local manufacturers will participate in a May 11 roundtable to pitch the Obama administration on industry needs and promote homegrown production.
Workforce Development
- Tourism Marketing for Cities and Towns
It focuses on developing the branded destination with special emphasis on promotional planning. In addition, it contains numerous international examples, discussion questions, and strategic planning worksheets.
- Entrepreneurial ecosystems global summit, part 1!
One thing that was visible from OECD (and elsewhere and now Kauffman) is the need for good metrics.
- Cities Chase Elusive 'Innovation Economy'
Professor Enrico Moretti explains how cities can get in on the 'innovation economy.'
21st Century Education Initiative - "You Should Care..."
- Cities Must Invest in the 'Smart Jobs' Workforce
STEM-intensive occupations are expected to drive economic growth. But cities must invest in training and education to build a qualified workforce.
Education
- University of Montana Now Offering Master's in Early Childhood Education
The coursework will be delivered in an online format to create a readily accessible master's degree option for current teachers and other human-service professionals to prepare them for emerging needs in the workforce.
- Perseverance key to children's intellectual growth, Stanford scholar says
Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck says that children are more motivated when they are told their intelligence or talents can grow and expand.
- ASPIRE project recruiting 130 Montana youth with disabilities
Parents of children with disabilities face many similar challenges, but possibly the most significant challenge centers around employment opportunities for their child once they reach the workforce age.
Montana Education Excellence
- Stephen Colbert shocks South Carolina schools by funding every single teacher-requested grant
Colbert partnered with Share Fair Nation and ScanSource to fund nearly 1,000 projects for more than 800 teachers at over 375 schools, totaling $800,000.
Montana Education/Business Partnerships
- Former education advisor to Gov. Bullock, Shannon O'Brien named new Missoula College Dean
O'Brien replaces Interim Dean Jane Baker, who has led Missoula College since October 2014. O'Brien earned a doctorate in educational leadership from UM in 2013.
Bill Payne
- Long-Running UM Student-Produced TV Program Highlights Montana Businesses on May 18 and May 31
This episode features Meissenburg Designs in Bigfork, Legends Soccer in Whitefish, Caravan Skis in Bozeman, Howard Hill Archery in Hamilton and Everlog Systems in Missoula.
Community
- US Crowdfunding in 2014 by Bill Payne
How crowdfunding is beginning to impact angel investing
Funding and Building your Business
- Feds cleanup plan leaves Libby, Montana with asbestos
Some Libby residents said the asbestos inevitably will escape during future excavation work, home renovations and accidents such as fires.
Making the Most of the American Prairie
- Why Tony Hsieh Is Turning Zappos Into a City
The online retailing guru thinks self-organization is the key to sustained productivity.
- How to Hire Exceptional Employees
Bryan Johnson, founder of Braintree, says that recruiting people who align with the company's passion and philosophy is the foundation to success.
- The Ultimate Guide to Prospecting: How Many Touchpoints, When, and What Type
Here's a guide that can help you optimize your prospecting process and significantly improve your response and connect rates, even with no changes to the content of your messaging.
Connectivity & Communications
- Adventure & Opportunity -- The Latest News from the American Prairie Reserve in Montana
American Prairie Reserve's Wild Sky beef program has chefs and buyers excited. The story behind the products -- using economic incentives to encourage ranchers to make their land increasingly wildlife-friendly -- inspires all who hear it. But the business model is what really helps Wild Sky stand apart.
Government Technology
- Montana Opticom - Some of the fastest internet service in the state coming to Belgrade, Montana - Career Opportunites Available
"The City of Belgrade has been growing over the past several years, driven by new high-tech jobs moving into our area," said city manager Ted Barkley. "With this growth, our tech-savvy residents are seeking more advanced broadband services.
Transportation
- Decision-Making Software Shapes Government Budgets Transparently
Decision Lens puts an organization's priorities into a transparent and interactive framework, so everyone can see why projects were ranked the way they were, and then they can proceed accordingly.
- Texas.gov Relaunches as a One-Page Website
Thoreau said our lives are frittered away by detail, and someone in Texas was listening.
- FAA: Great Falls has lowest commercial airfares in Montana
Great Falls' lower rates can be attributed to a few factors, including having three competing airlines and the willingness of the public to fly during slower travel times.
- The World's First Self-Driving Semi-Truck Hits the Road
The truck in question is the Freightliner Inspiration, a teched-up version of the Daimler 18-wheeler sold around the world. And according to Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, it will make long-haul road transportation safer, cheaper, and better for the planet.
- Why Is American Passenger Rail So Far Behind?
In a segment for WNYC, journalist Simon van Zuylen-Wood discusses Amtrak's current status as a "national embarrassment." Decades of lackluster investment, he argues, make it difficult to prove demand in the first place.
- On the Benefits of Traffic Signal Removal
New research from Wayne State University extols the advantages of removing unnecessary traffic lights.
- First U.S. City to Build Protected Intersection for Bikes: Salt Lake City
The intersection design is based on a Dutch template that minimizes potential conflicts between people biking, driving, and walking.
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